On 6 November, the Estonian Refugee Council will host an international humanitarian conference at Fotografiska Tallinn, focusing on key issues shaping the sector: institutional reforms, the funding crisis, the digital transformation, and access to areas affected by crises.

We are organising an international humanitarian conference in Tallinn on 6 November, and registration is still open. This year, the conference will focus on institutional reforms and the funding crisis, the digital transformation, and access to crisis affected communities. We opened an office in Syria to support people affected by the civil war and help them rebuild their lives. Despite the ongoing hostilities in Gaza throughout September, we managed to deliver 2,900 food portions to local hospitals. We continue to collect donations in Estonia to provide essential food aid that gives patients strength to recover and supports doctors and nurses in their vital work. Make a donation on the Estonian Refugee Council website. In Estonia, we kicked off the new season of Start Smart training on AI, with 40 young people with refugee backgrounds taking part.  Since spring, we have supported more than 2,400 people through our mental health helpline. The helpline is available to Ukrainians both in Ukraine and across other European countries, providing much-needed support to those affected by the war. We opened hydroponic greenhouses at three schools in Armenia to help address the impacts of climate change and ensure food security in water-scarce conditions. The greenhouses also promote environmental education for children and strengthen social inclusion.  We supported more than 390 Ukrainian refugees in Georgia with cash-based humanitarian aid to help them cover their basic needs.

The Estonian Refugee Council (ERC) has received official approval to open an office in Syria, aiming to support people affected by the nearly 14-year-long civil war and contribute to the country’s rebuilding efforts. The presence of the Estonian Refugee Council allows assistance both to those displaced within the country and to those returning home after prolonged periods as refugees.

Last week, the Estonian Refugee Council began providing food aid in hospitals across Gaza City to support both patients and medical staff. Thanks to Estonian donors, 1,400 meals have now been distributed in Gaza.

Estonian Refugee Council begins providing food aid in the Gaza Strip to support local hospitals and ensure daily meals for both patients and healthcare workers.  

The Estonian Refugee Council has been chosen as the official charity partner of the British-Estonian Chamber of Commerce (BECC) for 2025, supporting the community integration and societal inclusion of people with a refugee background in Estonia.

In the fields just beyond Barvinkove, a small town in Kharkiv oblast, the late-summer sun shines over quiet pastures. From a distance, the scene looks peaceful—cows grazing slowly, a young calf nearby, the landscape seemingly untouched. But behind this stillness is a story of survival, strength, and the long journey of recovery in a community scarred by war.